COVID-19 UPDATE: The Perecman Firm is open! Our team is working remotely
and offering confidential consultations via phone, e-mail, and video conferencing.
Read more from Founding Attorney, David Perecman.

As a law firm that has
built a reputation protecting the rights of construction, trade, and utility workers following
preventable injuries and work-related accidents, The Perecman Firm, P.L.L.C.
is proud to support National Electrical Safety Month!

During May, we take an opportunity to recognize how we’ve all come
to rely on electricity for our daily needs – and how we depend on
electricians, skilled tradespeople and workers to ensure electrical systems
remain safe and operational.

While workers do a great job of bringing power to our homes, businesses,
and communities, they face tremendous risks when doing so. As we’ve
seen personally at The Perecman Firm, electrical injuries can have profound
repercussions on victims’ lives.

Electrical Risks Posed to Workers

Given the potential for grave injuries,
a healthy respect for electricity is essential. From apprentices to journeymen, and from tradespeople of all types to
the most experienced utility workers and high-voltage linemen, electricity
does not discriminate.

While every project is different, any place with electrical power poses
risks. Some of these include:

1. Electric Shock

Electric shock injuries involve electrical current passing through the
body, which can harm muscle, nerves, tissues, and organs. The severity
of the damage depends on many factors, including:

Current Type: Alternating current (AC) is more dangerous than direct current (DC), as
it may cause continuous muscle contraction, preventing victims from releasing
themselves from an electrical source and resulting in more prolonged exposure).

Current Intensity: Standard current used in most U.S. homes, 110 to 220 volts, has less potential
for severe injuries in and of itself than high voltage, anything over
300 to 500 volts.

Current Path: Electrical current travels through the body during an electrical shock,
and the path it takes can influence the severity of the injury a person
may experience. Current that travels from the fingers to the hand, arm,
and body may injure the body’s heart and cardiovascular system,
whereas current that travels from the head can cause brain injury or damage
to the eyes.

Resistance: The lower the resistance, the more severe the injury. Gloved or calloused
hands are more resistant than soft, wet, cut or broken skin.

Exposure Duration: The longer the period of exposure, the higher the risks for severe injuries
(which is in part why AC is more dangerous than DC).

2. Electrical Burns

While electricity can cause injuries that we may not be able to see, it
can also cause severe
burn injuries, including:

Flash burns, which are typically caused by an arc flash and cause superficial injuries,
as no current travels through the body;

Flame burns, which occur when arc flashes ignite or cause fires;

Low-voltage burns, caused by contact with power sources of 500 volts or less, and which typically
affect the body only at the site of contact;

High-voltage burns from direct contact with high voltage supply, which can cause severe damage
beneath the skin and throughout the body.

3. Electrocution

Electrocution is a term used to describe fatal electrocution; it always means death.

As one of OSHA’s “Fatal Four” workplace hazards, electrocution
is a common fatal work injury and is a significant risk in certain occupations,
including those related to construction and electrical work. Roughly half
of all fatal electrical injuries occur in the construction industry.

4. Other Electrical Safety Risks

There are many cases in which the electrical injury itself is not the primary
cause of a severe injury or death. There are many other risks that can
lead to further injury following electrical accidents, including:

COVID-19 contraction if electrical supplies, equipment, or worksites are
not properly or regularly cleaned or disinfected.

Best Practices & Tips to Avoid Injuries on the Job

With many electricians, tradespeople, and construction workers still working
essential jobs, and many more to join them when New York’s ban on
non-essential construction is lifted, it’s important for all trades
to take precautions and employ best practices for avoiding injuries on
the job, including electrical injuries and occupational diseases like COVID-19.

1. Electrical Safety

Both employers and workers should take steps to ensure they’re taking
precautions to keep themselves and others on worksites safe and to comply
with regulations concerning potential
electrical hazards (NY Code § 23-1.13) and other New York
codes for construction worker safety. Some helpful tips:

Using proper guardrails, toe-boards, and other equipment to prevent falls
into dangerous areas;

Using appropriate PPE and regularly inspecting them for potential damage;

Planning ahead to determine what tasks should be performed, and what safety
equipment and procedures will be needed to do them safely

Training and educating all workers about fall prevention;

COVID-19 Considerations

During these unprecedented times, skilled laborers, electricians and construction
workers may find themselves in contact with numerous people, especially
when working in densely populated cities like New York.

In addition to protecting against all the other hazards which exist on
job sites, workers and employers should also take steps to comply with
current guidance regarding COVID-19 and keep themselves and those around
them safe. A few tips to be mindful of:

Stay up to date with current guidelines from OSHA, the CDC, and local regulators;

Practice good hygiene, including frequent handwashing;

Keep your face and mouth covered (the CDC recommends every individual should
wear face coverings, especially in areas where social distancing may be
hard to maintain);

Avoid touching the nose, mouth, and face, and cover coughs and sneezes
with tissue;

Avoid close contact, avoid shaking hands, and comply with social distancing
directives;

Disinfect all contact surfaces before working, regularly throughout the
workday, and at the end of each day (i.e., equipment, tools, tables, doorknobs, etc.);

Do not share PPE, if possible, especially PPE that comes into contact with
the mouth or nose, and properly disinfect PPE regularly.

What to Do After a Work Accident

Turn off the source of electricity, or move the source away from you and
the person using non-conducting objects (i.e., wood, plastic, cardboard);

If a person is still in contact with electrical current, do not touch them,
and do not move them unless they are in immediate danger. If the accident
involves high voltage lines or wiring, keep your distance;

Seek immediate medical attention and continue to follow up with doctors
and specialists;

Explore your rights to a personal injury or workers’ compensation
claim by speaking with an experienced attorney.

Proven Attorneys Available to Help

At The Perecman Firm, our legal team is available to help workers and families
looking to explore their options for
paying medical bills and recovering needed compensation following work-related accidents, including
those involving electrical and
construction-related injuries.

Though much remains uncertain about COVID-19 and workers’ compensation
in New York, our legal team is staying apprised of the latest changes
and is on the forefront of this issue. You can learn more about
worker safety and benefits amid COVID-19 on our blog.

While complying with social distancing directives, our team remains available
to new and potential clients remotely. You can still request a free and
confidential consultation with an attorney via phone, e-mail, or video
conference. Call or contact us online.